Rare zhadou-shaped imperial vase in Hué blue porcelain... Lot 16

Rare zhadou-shaped imperial vase in Hué blue porcelain with blue-white decoration of two phoenixes among clouds flying over tumultuous waves, the body partially decorated with a lakeside landscape. Four-character mark in white relief under the base "Nội phủ thị đoài", i.e. "Inner Palace, Western Enclosure". China for Vietnam, second half of the 18th century. Height: 19 cm. Diameter: 15 cm. (Slight crack, neck trimmed). An extremely rare piece, this vase is one of the porcelains produced for Đặng Thị Huệ, concubine of Lord Trịnh Sâm (1767-1782). A favorite of the latter, she is notably known for having exercised the regency for almost a month in 1782. She died in 1784 after a violent internal struggle that led to her suicide. Nevertheless, she was one of the most influential women of her time, elevated by Trinh Sâm to the rank of "Tuyên phi", the period's highest distinction for a wife.